HUMSS 2 (PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE)

READING MATERIAL

LESSON 8: FUNCTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

I. Introduction
Power in the government is basically divided among the three branches: the
executive, judicial and legislative. This lesson gives you an overview of the functions and role of
a president and all other people or agencies associated with the executive branch of the
government.

II. Objectives
After this lesson, you should be able to:
1. define what is executive branch;
2. explain the roles and powers of the Philippine president; and
3. discuss how the president exercises power.

III. Pretest
Write down the names of the president of the Philippines in chronological order.

IV. Discussion / Course Content

Functions and Powers of the Executive
1. Enforcement of Laws:
The primary function of the executive is to enforce laws and to maintain law and order in the
state. Whenever a breach of law takes place, it is the responsibility of the executive to plug the
breach and bring the offenders to book. Each government department is responsible for the
implementation of the laws and policies concerning its work. For maintaining law and order in
the state, the executive organises and maintains the police force.
2. Appointment-Making Functions:
All major appointments are made by the chief executive. For example, the President of Nigeria
appoints ministers who make up his cabinet to take responsibility for each of the government
ministries. The ministers appointed include Minister of Justice or Attorney General, Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance, Minister of Defence, Minister of Education and so on.
Likewise, the President of the United States makes a very large number of key appointments.
All the secretaries who head various government departments, Judges of the Supreme Court
and other Federal Courts, the Federal officials in the States etc., are appointed by the US
President. However, all such appointments require the approval of the US Senate (Upper House
US Congress i.e. Parliament). As such appointment-making is a function of the executive.
3. Treaty-Making Functions:
It is the responsibility of the executive to decide as to which treaties are to be signed with which
other countries. The executive negotiates the treaties in accordance with the procedure defined
by international law and also in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of the state.
Each treaty is signed by a member of the executive. Most of the treaties also require ratification

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by the legislature of the State. It is again the responsibility of the executive to secure legislative
approval for the treaties signed by it.
4. Defence, War and Peace Functions:
One of the key functions of the state is to defend and preserve the unity and integrity of the
country and protect it in the event of an external aggression or war. It is the responsibility of the
executive to undertake this work. To organise military for the defence of the state, to prepare for
and fight the war, if it becomes necessary, and to negotiate and sign peace settlement after
every war, are the functions performed by the executive.
The executive is the final judge of the nature of the threat to the security of the country. It has
the prime responsibility to take all such steps as are needed in the interest of the security and
integrity of the state. The chief executive of the state is also the supreme commander of the
armed forces of the state.
5. Foreign Policy-Making and the Conduct of Foreign Relations:
In this age of ever-increasing global interdependence, it has become one of the most important
functions of a government to formulate the foreign policy of the state and to conduct foreign
relations. This function is also performed by the executive.
The executive formulates the goals of national interest and fixes the priorities. It first formulates
the foreign policy of the nation and then implements it for securing the defined goals of national
interest. The executive appoints the ambassadors of the state to other states.
6. Policy-Making:
Modern welfare state has to carry out a large number of functions for securing the socio-
economic-cultural development of its people. It has to formulate policies, prepare short-term and
long-term plans and implement these. All actions of the state are guided by definite policies and
plans.
It is the executive which undertakes the task of policy-making and developmental planning.
These are the two most important functions of the executive, because by these the state carries
out its objective of promoting the welfare of its people.
7. Functions Related to Law-Making:
Law-making is primarily the function of the legislature. However, the executive also plays a role
in law-making. In this sphere too, the role of the executive has been increasing by leaps and
bounds. In a parliamentary system, the ministers are also members of the legislature and they
play a leading role in law-making.
Most of the bills for legislation are introduced and piloted by them in the legislature. Most of the
time of the legislature is spent in passing the governmental bills. The bills passed by the
legislature become laws only after these are signed by the Head of the State.
8. Financial Functions:
It is the legislature which is the custodian of all finances. It has the power to impose, or reduce
or eliminate a tax. However, in actual practice, the executive exercises a number of financial
functions. It has the responsibility to prepare the budget. It proposes the levy of new taxes or

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changes in tax structure and administration. It collects and spends the money as sanctioned by
the legislature.
The executive decides the ways and means through which the money is to be collected and
spent. It formulates all economic policies and plans. It takes suitable measures for regulating the
production and distribution of goods, money supply, prices and exports and imports. It contracts
foreign loans, negotiates foreign aid and maintains the financial credibility of the state.
9. Some Semi-Judicial Functions:
The appointment of judges by the executive is regarded as the best method for ensuring the
independence of judiciary. In almost all democratic systems, the chief executive has the power
to appoint judges. Further, he has the right to grant pardon, reprieve and amnesty to criminals.
Under the system of administrative adjudication, the executive agencies have the power to hear
and decide cases involving particular fields of administrative activity.
10. Grant of Titles and Honours:
Another important function of the executive is to grant titles and honours to the people in
recognition of their meritorious services to the nation. Such persons who do commendable work
in their respective spheres of activity—Art, Science, Literature etc. are granted titles by the
executive. It also grants titles to such defence personnel who show exemplary courage and
devotion to duty during war or peace. Even ordinary citizens are granted honours in recognition
of their meritorious work for the society. All decisions in this respect are taken by the executive. 
Nigerian National Honours are a set of orders and decorations conferred upon Nigerians and
friends of Nigeria every year. The Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal
Republic (GCFR) and Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) are customarily
respectively bestowed on former occupants of the office of President of Nigeria and Vice
President of Nigeria including former military heads of state of Nigeria and Chiefs of General
Staff. The Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) is also another national honour awarded by
the President.
The Medal of Honor is the United States of America’s highest and most prestigious personal
military decoration that may be awarded to recognize U.S. military service members who have
distinguished themselves by acts of valor. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is another award
bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with the Congressional Gold
Medal—the highest civilian award of the United States.

For additional reading material, refer to the following links:

 https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/about/gov/#:~:text=The%20Executive%20branch
%20is%20composed,portion%20of%20the%20country's%20bureaucracy.
 https://pia.gov.ph/branches-of-govt

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